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By the JEE Main Seat Matrix, you can have an idea about the total seats available in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs before the beginning of JoSAA Counselling.
The JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026 is expected to be the same as 2025, with more than 45,000 seats available in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- As per the previous year's analysis, NITs will offer around 24,000 seats, IIITs will offer around 9,087 seats, and GFTIs will offer 9,980 seats.
- The seats will be allocated based on categories as per the reservation policy, which is 27% seats for OBC-NCL candidates, 15% for SC candidates, 7.5% for ST candidates, 10% for EWS candidates, and 5% for PwD candidates.
- The JoSSA will allocate the seats based on AIR ranks, category-wise ranks, and institute-wise ranks in 6 or more rounds.
For the latest updates regarding the JEE Main Seat Matrix, you should regularly check the JoSAA Official website, josaa.nic.in, where the official PDF will be released for the JEE Main 2026 Seat Matrix.
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Key Summary
In this Article, we have discussed the JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026, including the Seat Intake for NITs, IIITs & GFTIs.
- The Seat Intake for CSE is the highest, with more than 9,000 seats in NITs & IIITs, after which ECE and ME have the highest number of seats.
- The New Branches, like AI/ML & Data Science, have only 20 to 80 seats for each institute, which creates pressure for a high cutoff.
- The General Category candidates are expected to get more than 40 to 45% of seats after applying the reservation.
- The GFTIs have the most different variations in the cutoff because of state quotas, with around 10,000 seats.
- The Home State Quota will cover around 50% of NIT Seats, which will increase the cutoff by 20 to 40% for the local candidates with branches of low demand.
- JEE Main Expected Seat Matrix 2026
- JEE Main Category-Wise Seat Matrix (Expected)
- JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026: NITs, IIITs & GFTIs
- JEE Main Seat Reservation Matrix: Who Gets How Many Seats?
- JEE Main Seat Matrix: Top Engineering Branches with Maximum Seats
- Female-Only Seats in NITs, IIITs & GFTIs: What Every Girl Should Know
- FAQs for JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026
JEE Main Expected Seat Matrix 2026
The JEE Main Seat Intake 2026 is expected to increase as per the expansion of seats in the JoSAA Seat Matrix 2025. With around 45,000 seats offered in 2025 in institutes like IIITs and GFTIs, they are expected to increase in 2026.
The official number of seats will be updated before the counselling by JoSSA on the official website, jossa.nic.in.
Expected JEE Main 2026 Seats (Institute-Wise)
- The IIITs are expected to increase the seats according to the categories, as per the increase in new programs like CSE/AI and data science.
- The GFTIs can increase by around 600 seats, with an increase in regional seats for different institutes.
- The NITs expand with more than 150 to 200 seats every year, according to the high-demand branches.
| Institute Type | 2025 Seats (Official) | Expected Seats 2026 | Reason for Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NITs (32) | 23,914 | 24,000 | NITs added 296 seats in 2025; around 200 more seats can be added in 2026., |
| IIITs (26) | 9087 | 10,000 | IIITs had the biggest jump in 2025 (+1,394 seats); new programs & campus expansions will continue in 2026 as well. |
| GFTIs (40) | 9981 | 11,000 | GFTIs expanded by 826 seats in 2025; a few, but some, increases can be seen in 2026. |
| Total Seats (All) | 42,981 | 45,000 | It is expected to grow according to the expansion of 2026. |
Also Read
Check this video by @adarshbarnwal to check the previous year's seat intake analysis of JEE Main and a comparison between total seats in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Ques. Will the Seat Count Increase in JEE Main 2026 Due to Government Expansion Plans?
Ans. The Ministry of Education has increased the total number of engineering seats in 2026 in new tech branches like AI, data science & cybersecurity.
- In 2025, a total of 42,981 seats were offered, which are expected to increase to 45,000 in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- The increase will be according to the different branches available in JEE Main.
Ques. Which Institutes Are Likely to Add More Seats in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. The institutes that are expanding their labs and have added new B. Tech specialisatios or changed their infrastructure in 2024 or 2025 can increase their seats in 2026.
| Institute | Branch Expected to Expand | Estimated Increase |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Warangal | CSE, AI-ML | +20–30 |
| NIT Rourkela | CSE (AI), Chemical | +15–20 |
| IIIT Hyderabad | CSE, ECE | +20 |
| IIIT Nagpur | CSE, AI | +30 |
| PEC Chandigarh | Mechanical, ECE | +10–15 |
Ques. Do Seat Increases Actually Affect Cutoff Ranks in JEE Main?
Ans. The JEE Main Cutoff will depend upon different factors like the total number of candidates, difficulty level, normalisation, and demand of the branch.
- With the increase in the total number of seats, the cutoff can also increase marginally.
- With a smaller number of seats, an increase of around 20 to 40 seats will increase the ranks by 300 to 700.
- With the increase of more than 100+ seats, the cutoff can increase by 1,000 to 1,800 ranks in high-demand branches like CSE, ECE, and AI/ML.
JEE Main Category-Wise Seat Matrix (Expected)
In engineering, every institute under JoSAA will follow a fixed category-wise seat intake according to the reservation policy.
The total number of seats can differ for each college and branch; the general categories, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS, get different numbers of seats in each institute.
JEE Main Seat Intake for NITs
In 2025, NITs offered around 23,914 seats, according to the JoSAA official website. In 2026, the seat intake is expected to be the same or more than 24,000.
Check below the expected seat intake for NITs.
- The seats in CSE have increased by around 15 to 20%, as per other branches in NITs.
- Around 300 new seats can be expected in 2026 because of the new B. Tech programs.
| Branch | Total Seats (Avg.) | GEN | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSE | 150 | 60 | 40 | 22 | 11 | 15 |
| ECE | 120 | 48 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 12 |
| Electrical | 110 | 44 | 30 | 17 | 8 | 11 |
| Mechanical | 110 | 44 | 30 | 17 | 8 | 11 |
| Civil | 90 | 36 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 9 |
JEE Main Seat Intake for IIITs
In JEE Main, IIITs had one of the fastest increases in total number of seats, from 8,546 in 2024 to around 9,087 seats in 2025, as per the JoSAA official website. In 2026, the total number of seats can be more than 10,000.
Check below the expected seat intake for IIITs.
- In IIITs, the largest number of seats is given to CSE courses, with more than 40 to 50% of seats.
- In 2025, more than 1,000 new seats were added because of an increase in demand for different course types.
| Branch | Total Seats | GEN | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSE | 180 | 80 | 49 | 27 | 13 | 18 |
| AI / DS / IT | 120 | 53 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 12 |
| ECE | 90 | 40 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 9 |
JEE Main Seat Intake for GFTIs
- GFTIs offered around 9,980 seats in 2025, an increase from 9,402 seats in 2024.
- The GFTIs include state-funded and centrally funded institutes, so the seat matrix will differ accordingly.
| Branch | Total Seats (Avg.) | GEN | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSE | 120 | 52 | 32 | 18 | 9 | 12 |
| ECE | 90 | 40 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 9 |
| Mechanical | 100 | 44 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 10 |
Also Read
Ques. How Are Seats Divided Among GEN, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST in JEE Main?
Ans. The total seat distribution in JEE Main will be done according to the reservation policy of the government of India and JoSAA, allocating category-wise seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
But the total number of seats differs according to the institute; the percentage shift remains the same, which shows how many seats are received by every category each year.
| Category | Seat Share (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GEN (Unreserved) | ~45–48% | Varies slightly based on supernumerary seats |
| GEN-EWS | 10% | Fixed nationwide |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | Mandated quota across all institutes |
| SC | 15% | Fixed |
| ST | 7.5% | Fixed |
Ques. What Percentage of Seats Are Reserved Category-Wise in JoSAA Counselling?
Ans. The JoSAA follows a policy of a central reservation matrix in all NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, which ensures similarity in the seat allocation.
- The reservation is applied to all B.Tech branches, which ensures the inclusion of new tech programs like AI/ML and DS.
- The reservation of 10% is applicable for EWS candidates, which increases the competition among the general category.
- After the general category, the highest reservation is given to the OBC-NCL category, at around 27%.
JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026: NITs, IIITs & GFTIs
The JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026 is expected to increase for the top institutes for high-demand branches such as CSE, ECE, and Mechanical.
JEE Main Seat Matrix for NITs 2026
- The JEE Main Seat Matrix for NITs is expected to increase as per the rise seen in JoSAA 2025, in which NITs offered 23,914 seats.
- In top NITs like Trichy, Warangal, and Surathkal, the expected seats can increase by around 20 to 40 because of academic expansion and more demand in engineering branches.
Top 10 NITs: Seat Matrix 2025 vs Expected 2026
| NIT (Top 10) | 2025 Seats (From the Institute Data) | Expected Seats in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 1,070–1,085 | 1,090 – 1,120 |
| NIT Warangal | 1,135–1,150 | 1,150 – 1,180 |
| NIT Surathkal | 1,075–1,090 | 1,090 – 1,120 |
| NIT Calicut | 1,145–1,160 | 1,160 – 1,200 |
| NIT Rourkela | 1,105–1,120 | 1,120 – 1,150 |
| MNIT Jaipur | 1,090–1,105 | 1,100 – 1,130 |
| VNIT Nagpur | 995–1,010 | 1,010 – 1,050 |
| NIT Delhi | 370–380 | 380–420 |
| NIT Durgapur | 965–980 | 980–1,020 |
| NIT Silchar | 855–870 | 870–910 |
In this video by @RGRAcademy, check the total number of NITs, their rankings, seat matrix, cutoff trends, and admission process for JEE Main candidates.
JEE Main Seat Matrix for IIITs
- As per the JoSAA’s official seat matrix, IIITs offered around 9087 seats in 2025 across 26 IIITs.
- In 2026, the expected seats will increase according to the increase in demand for CSE/AI/Data Science programs.
| IIIT Institute | 2025 Seats (JoSAA 2025 seat-matrix) | Expected Seats in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad | 480 | 490–520 (based on overall IIIT expansion) |
| IIIT Delhi | 480 | 500 – 540 |
| IIIT DM, Kancheepuram | 593 | 610–650 |
| IIITDM, Jabalpur | 550 | 570–620 |
| IIIT Allahabad | 439 | 450–490 |
| IIIT Guwahati | 254 | 270–300 |
| IIIT Dharwad | 486 | 500–550 |
| IIIT Nagpur | 648 | 670–720 |
| IIIT Vadodara | 415 | 430–470 |
| IIIT Bhagalpur | 344 | 360–400 |
JEE Main Seat Matrix for GFTIs
- In 2025, GFTIs offered a total of 9,980 seats. The top GFTIs, like BIT Mesra and Bilaspur, include a high number of shares in these seats.
- So, it is a good option for candidates who are not able to get seats in the top NITs or IIITs.
| GFTI Institute | 2025 Seats (JoSAA Seat Matrix) | Projected Seats in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra | 1,312 | 1,350 – 1,450 |
| Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology | 625 | 640–700 |
| School of Studies Engineering, Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur | 690 | 720–780 |
| Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar | 545 | 560–620 |
| National Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Ranchi | 291 | 300–350 |
| Assam University, Silchar | 180 | 190–220 |
| Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research & Management, Ahmedabad | 192 | 200–240 |
| J.K. Institute of Applied Physics & Technology, Allahabad | 86 | 90–120 |
| National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, Aurangabad | 120 | 130–160 |
| Mizoram University, Aizawl – School of Engineering | 96 | 100–130 |
JEE Main Institute-Wise Seat Matrix PDF
| Institute Type | JEE Main 2025 Seat Matrix |
|---|---|
| IITs | Check JEE Main IITs Seat Matrix PDF |
| NITs | Check JEE Main NITs Seat Matrix PDF |
| IIITs | Check JEE Main IIITs Seat Matrix PDF |
| GFTI-s | Check JEE Main GFTIs Seat Matrix PDF |
Also Read
JEE Main Seat AllotmentQues. Which NITs Are Likely to Increase Their Seat Intake in 2026?
Ans. A lot of NITs are expected to increase the seat intake in 2026 because of upgrades in infrastructure, new academic blocks, and growing demand for CS/AI/DS branches.
- These will generally increase by around 20 to 80 seats for each institute, depending upon the capacity and expansion of the branch.
- The top NITs, like NIT Trichy and NIT Surathkal, are expected to have a major increase in the total number of seat intakes.
Ques. Do IIITs Have Separate Seat Pools Compared to NITs in JoSAA?
Ans. Yes, IIITs follow a different seat classification according to the NITs. The NITs follow a home state and other state quotas, whereas the IIITs follow a state/UT-based quota.
NIT vs IIIT Seat Comparison
| Institute Type | Seat Quota System | Who Gets Priority? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NITs | HS + OS | Candidates from the same state as the NIT (HS quota) | Applies to all 31 NITs |
| IIITs (CFTI Model) | No HS–OS quota | All India only | Purely merit-based except some state quotas |
| IIITs (PPP Model) | State & All-India quota | Home state students (only for PPP IIITs) | Only 5–7 IIITs have state quota |
Ques. How Does the Seat Matrix Differ for Home State vs Other State Quotas in NITs?
Ans. The NITs Seat Allocation is the split between Home State and Other State quotas. This will impact the closing ranks with HS students, who receive an advantage in mid-tier NITs.
HS vs OS Seat Matrix (Typical CSE Branch)
| NIT | Total CSE Seats | HS Seats | OS Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 150 | 75 | 75 |
| NIT Surathkal | 180 | 90 | 90 |
| NIT Jaipur | 120 | 60 | 60 |
| NIT Calicut | 150 | 75 | 75 |
JEE Main Seat Reservation Matrix: Who Gets How Many Seats?
The JEE Main follows a centralised reservation policy, which is followed in all NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs during the JoSAA Counselling.
- The JEE Main Category-wise seat matrix will help candidates across India to get equal access.
- The OBC & EWS candidates together carry a total of 37% of seats, which influences the closing rank in top branches like CSE and ECE.
- The SC/ST candidates receive a total of 22.5% of seats, which results in 20 to 40% lower closing ranks as compared to unreserved seats in top NITs.
JEE Main Category-Wise Seat Reservation
| Category | Reservation % |
|---|---|
| GEN-EWS | 10% |
| OBC–NCL | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| PwD (Across All Categories) | 5% Horizontal |
| Female Supernumerary Seats | Institute-Specific (varies 5–20%) |
Also Read
JEE Main Reservation CriteriaJEE Main Seat Matrix: Top Engineering Branches with Maximum Seats
Every year, most of the seats in JEE Main are given to engineering branches because they are offered in almost all NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
Knowing the branches with maximum seats will help you make a better choice, know about their competition level, and build a proper JoSAA strategy.
Top 10 Branches with Maximum Seats (Across NITs + IIITs + GFTIs)
| Rank | Branch | Total Seats (Approx. 2025) | Expected Seats (2026) | Why This Branch Has High Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSE – Computer Science & Engineering | 9000+ | 9200–9300 | Offered in almost every NIT/IIIT/GFTI; highest industry demand. |
| 2 | ECE – Electronics & Communication | 7800+ | 8000+ | Core + digital tech blend makes it widely offered. |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering | 6800+ | 6900+ | Traditional core branches are offered in almost all NITs/GFTIs. |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | 6200+ | 6300+ | Power and electronics relevance keeps intake stable. |
| 5 | Civil Engineering | 5500+ | 5600+ | Infrastructure-linked core branch; high presence in GFTIs/NITs. |
| 6 | IT – Information Technology | 3800+ | 4000+ | Fastest-growing seats due to tech-sector expansion. |
| 7 | Chemical Engineering | 3000+ | 3050+ | Long-established core engineering seats across NITs. |
| 8 | Metallurgical & Materials Engineering | 2100+ | 2150+ | Offered in most NITs; stable intake pattern. |
| 9 | Production/Industrial Engineering | 1500+ | 1550+ | Offered mainly in NITs with a manufacturing focus. |
| 10 | Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering | 1400+ | 1450+ | Growth driven by health-tech and R&D demand. |
Ques. Does Having More Seats in a Branch Reduce the Cutoff Rank?
Ans. The JEE Main Seat availability will influence the cutoff trends. The Branches with large seat intake will generally have low closing ranks.
| Branch Type | Typical Seat Intake | Cutoff Trend | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-intake branches (ME, EEE, Civil) | 200–400+ per NIT | Lower cutoffs | More seats + moderate demand |
| Medium-intake branches (ECE, IT) | 120–200 | Moderate cutoffs | Balanced demand vs supply |
| Low-intake branches (CSE, AI/ML, DS) | 60–150 | Highest cutoffs | Very high demand and limited seats |
Ques. Is CSE Still the Branch with the Highest Seat Intake Across NITs and IIITs?
Ans. As CSE is the branch with the most demand, it still does not always have high seat intake. The Traditional branches like Mechanical and Civil have large intakes in Many NITs, but in IIITs, CSE has the largest number of seats.
NITs vs IIITs: Seat Intake Comparison
| Branch | Avg Seats in NITs | Avg Seats in IIITs | Seat Intake Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSE | 90–180 | 120–300 | Highest in IIITs |
| ECE | 90–150 | 60–150 | Second highest |
| Mechanical | 150–300 | N/A | Highest in older NITs |
| Civil | 150–250 | N/A | Higher in traditional NITs |
| AI/ML / DS | 30–60 | 60–90 | Newly added + growing |
Female-Only Seats in NITs, IIITs & GFTIs: What Every Girl Should Know
The female-only supernumerary seats were introduced to improve the representation of technical education. These seats will not reduce the general seat intake, but they are extra seats added for female candidates.
Expected Female-Only (Supernumerary) Seats in 2026
| Institute | 2025 Female-Only Seats | 2026 Expected Seats |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Trichy | 160 | 170 |
| NIT Surathkal | 150 | 158 |
| NIT Warangal | 145 | 155 |
| NIT Rourkela | 135 | 145 |
| IIIT Hyderabad | 28 | 32 |
| IIIT Bangalore | 40 | 44 |
| IIIT Delhi | 58 | 62 |
| PEC Chandigarh (GFTI) | 68 | 72 |
| DTU (GFTI under JoSAA) | 88 | 94 |
| HBTU Kanpur (GFTI) | 58 | 63 |
FAQs for JEE Main Seat Matrix 2026
Ques. Will IIT Seats Increase in 2026?
Ans. Yes, IITs are expanding, mainly the new ones. The Indian government has increased the IIT Seat capacity as per the previous year.
- Some New IITs like Bhilai, Dharwad, Jammu, Palakkad, and Tirupati will add more than 1,364 seats from 2025 to 2026, and 1,738 seats will be added around 2026 to 2027.
- According to the four-year plan, around 6,576 seats will be added inthe top 5 IITs.
- These seats are expected in high-demand branches like CSE, AI, and Data Science.
Ques. Are IIT Seats Increasing in 2025?
Ans. Yes, IITs are expected to increase total seats in 2025 and 2026, as the capacity is increasing in the new campuses.
| IIT (New / Expanding) | 2025-26 Seat Increase |
|---|---|
| Bhilai | +378 seats (approx.) |
| Jammu | +251 seats |
| Palakkad | +193 seats |
| Tirupati | +199 seats |
| Dharwad | Part of phased expansion |
Ques. Is the 75% criterion removed from JEE 2026?
Ans. No, the 75% board exam criteria have not been removed for admission by JEE Main in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
- As per the NTA, to get admission in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, you should have 75% in class 12 and be in the top 20 percentile.
- The Candidates having a drop year use the board exam retake to cross at least 75% in the board exams.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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